Capitals move into final Eastern Conference playoff spot

The Washington Capitals vaulted into the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night at Capital One Arena in Washington.

Sonny Milano scored twice for the Capitals and veteran defenseman John Carlson's power-play goal broke a 2-2 tie 8:29 into the third period. 

Washington has 87 points with two games remaining in the regular season. They are tied in points with the Detroit Red Wings but have a 30-27 advantage over Detroit in regulation wins, which is the first tie-breaker.

The Red Wings defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 in overtime at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on captain Dylan Larkin's power-play goal 41 seconds into the extra period. Larkin also had an assist and Alex DeBrincat contributed two goals.

Auston Matthews scored his 69th goal of the season for the Maple Leafs. There has not been a 70-goal scorer in the NHL since Alexander Mogilny and Teemu Selanne both accomplished the feat during the 1992-93 season.

Detroit has two games remaining. Toronto has two left for Matthews to reach 70.

The Philadelphia Flyers also have 87 points but are behind the Red Wings in the standings because the Flyers have played one more game. Philadelphia beat the New Jersey Devils 1-0 as Samuel Ersson made 20 saves for the shutout and Travis Konecny scored the game's only goal in the home game at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Flyers have one game left.

The Pittsburgh Penguins came into Saturday in the second wild-card spot but lost 6-4 to the Boston Bruins in a home contest. The Penguins have 86 points with two games remaining.

Despite a 3-2 shootout loss to the arch-rival New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, the New York Islanders remained in third place in the Metropolitan Division and the playoff spot that goes with it. The Islanders have 90 points and two games left to play.